What primary sensory functions do the densely packed chemoreceptors in the barbels serve?

Answer

External nose and tongue sampling for chemical signatures

The barbels surrounding the Wels Catfish's mouth house an extremely sophisticated sensory network critical for hunting in its typical habitat of slow-moving or turbid waters. The chemoreceptors embedded within these filaments are specialized to analyze the surrounding water chemistry. This dense concentration allows the fish to effectively function as both an external nose and an external tongue, constantly sampling for the chemical signatures released by prey items, even if they are hidden or moving slowly. While the barbels also possess significant mechanoreceptive capabilities to sense vibrations, the function directly related to the chemoreceptors is chemical sampling, which is vital for locating food without relying on sight.

What primary sensory functions do the densely packed chemoreceptors in the barbels serve?

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The Secret Hunting System of the Wels Catfish | Ep 1 - YouTube

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